Dead. Dead. The word reverberated through every bone in Josh's body. He'd seen Darren drowning in his own fury, had stoked the flames even at times. But not once had he ever believed Darren willing to murder, not even in his deepest of rages. He was a bully with too much pent-up anger, not a killer.

"Darren isn't here right now."

Josh's stomach churned, confusion and fear warring to see which could make his head spin faster.

"If it makes you feel any better," 'Darren' said, an almost comforting note in his voice, "your death will bring this boy some sort of solace. He really hates you."

"Let me go." Josh locked his jaw and reached inward, trying to find that same place his strength had come from before. Death, death, death. It was impossible. Life didn't just stop and end so abruptly.

Except it could, he just couldn't—no, wouldn't allow it. He would not just cower and watch whatever fate Darren intended happen.

What... What's going on?  Where... Joshua!

Surprise almost shocked Josh out of reaching for that strength, but a moment later, it spread through him once more. He didn't have time to pause and figure that out. Darren's expression shifted, perhaps sensing the change, but he didn't move in time to stop Josh from punching hard against his chest. That wasn't enough to make Darren release him, but it put enough space between them for Josh to bring his leg up and kick his gut. Triumph sparked in him when Darren released him—

But then Darren caught hold of Josh's leg. He yelped as Darren pivoted around and flung him across the aisle. Josh's shoulder slammed into the ground first, and the momentum sent him rolling a few more feet.

"Ow," Josh croaked. His shoulder didn't hurt from where he landed, but his ribs still burned.

A shadow appeared over Josh's head. He squirmed to the side barely avoiding the foot Darren had meant to smash into his face. Josh managed to get into a kneeling position before Darren started swinging again. Blocking with one arm, Josh jabbed with the other.

It hit its target. Darren grunted, but he didn't falter. In one smooth movement, he grasped Josh's hair and wrenched his head forward, straight into a rising knee.

Josh's world swam in a blur of tears and dark spots as pain blossomed across his face. Something wet dripped from his nose, and everything smelled like copper. Blood. Darren had made him bleed.

Get away.

Josh had already scrambled back as far as the tilting world would allow him before he realized the words in his head weren't his own.

But it was one he'd recognized. He'd heard it a few times, once talking to some unknown man, and again during those moments of confusion outside the school door. It was the voice from his visions.

Look, I know you're confused, but there's no time to explain. Now that Josh had more of a chance to really hear the voice, he noticed it sounded like a young boy. I'll try to figure out how to get you help, but right now, you have to run.

There was a voice in Josh's head. Part of him thought he had just been kneed too hard. The other part wondered if there was any point questioning anything after he ran into air itself.

Who... Who are you? Yep. If Josh wasn't insane before, he officially was now. He was talking back to the voice in his head.

Someone who would really like for you not to die, and if I tell you who I am, well, I don't think you'll focus very well not dying.

That wasn't a very satisfying answer, but Josh didn't get a chance to push for more. While he'd been conversing with his potential insanity, Darren had been observing him. Now, though, he took a couple of steps forward.

"It seems you're further along in the bond than I thought," he said. Most of his amusement was gone, anger replacing it.

Josh forced himself to his feet, dragging his forearm across his face. The flow of blood had almost neared a stop. Darren had mentioned something about a bond. Why did that sound familiar?

Worry later, run now, the voice advised.

Darren lifted his hand to chest level, and Josh tensed. Despite the voice's words, he lowered into a defensive stance. I already tried that, he said. I ran into an invisible wall.

The voice groaned. This is what you get for reaching out to my power. Now you're stuck.

Gee, sorry for doing the thing I don't even understand— Josh cut off, his jaw dropping.

Something dark exploded to life around Darren's hand. It spurted in multiple directions at first, but it condensed into a small, wavering light when he curled his hand into a fist.

The darkness, somehow made into a tangible form, created a transparent gauntlet around Darren's hand, promising an unpleasant collision with its sinister glow.

Josh, you need to move, the voice murmured. I don't know if you can take a hit from darkness without a completed bond, and I don't know when I'll find a way to get you help.

Go where? Josh demanded. He took a step back, gaze locked on the pitch-black light surrounding Darren's hand. A single word repeated in his mind over and over again, a word that he had been trying to ignore ever since he ran into the invisible wall.

Magic.

There was no such thing as magic. Yet even as his grounded mind pointed this out, nothing else could explain what he was seeing. Magic. Magic.

Learning such a thing somehow existed would have been the highlight of his life if it wasn't the very thing threatening to end his existence. He needed to run, but where could he go? How far did this mysterious wall extend? His stomach churned. He was going to be sick.

"Scared, little human?" Darren sneered. He took a step forward.

Josh took a few steps back.

Josh, I'm... I'm so sorry, the voice went on. Words streamed from it—or him, maybe, since the voice sounded like a boy's—even as he stumbled over the emotions thickening his words. Try to get to another aisle. The barrier should be pretty large. We... I... Josh, I think we have to complete the bond. But...

What bond? What barrier? Maybe it wasn't the time for questions, but his thoughts were the only thing racing. His body trembled, anything more than a few inching movements threatening to be too much for him.

Darren shook his head and laughed. "Pathetic." He leaped forward.

Josh braced to fling himself to the side, but Darren was moving too fast. He wouldn't be able to—

Movement somewhere past Darren caught Josh's eye. Darren came to an abrupt stop and twisted to the side. A thin, long object blurred through the air, passing right where Darren would have been.

Josh followed the object until it came to a stop, and when he got his first full look at it, he gaped. An icy blue arrow cut through a toy box and sliced into the metal backing of the aisle shelving.

"I dare you, Shadow Knight. Just try to touch the boy."

Josh jerked his head back around, and somehow, his shock continued to grow. He and Darren were no longer alone.

At the end of the aisle stood the beautiful blue-eyed girl. 

Fun fact: In the previous version, there was no air wall that convinced Josh that there was any form of magic, so.... There was a lot more of painful denial everywhere... It's one of the key reasons I edited this.  I hated it *so much.*

The girl returns!  You all knew she'd have to play a part, because really, how else was it gonna work?  Along side that, we have the voice coming back :D Isn't Josh just having all the fun?  Now whether or not he'll make it out of all this fun alive or not... That's yet to be seen ^.^

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D It's in my bio if you'd like to join!